We recently explored how the construction industry is a major contributor to global carbon emissions, pumping around 39% of all global energy-related carbon emissions and 43% of all greenhouse gas emissions into Earth’s atmosphere.
Although there’s still no UK legislation in place to specifically address embodied carbon in commercial construction, things are slowly gaining momentum. The sector is undergoing a radical transformation as a result.
With fresh concerns about the environmental impact of construction becoming increasingly prominent, sustainable building practices in the commercial construction sector are commonplace.
Here in the UK, a proposed amendment to building regulations known as ‘Part Z’ aims to formalise these environmental considerations, particularly for commercial property restoration.
Whole life carbon as the new impact measurement
Whole life carbon (WLC) refers to the total greenhouse gas emissions associated with a building or infrastructure project throughout its entire lifecycle. There are two dimensions to this measurement:
- Embodied Carbon: The carbon emissions associated with the extraction, manufacture, and transportation of materials used to construct a building. This includes the energy used in production processes, the carbon released from burning fossil fuels, the emissions from transporting materials to the construction site, and the emissions created during deconstruction and disposal at the building’s end of life.
- Operational Carbon: The carbon emissions produced by or associated with the ongoing operation of a building, including energy consumption for heating, cooling, lighting, and other functions. This also includes emissions from water use, waste disposal, and transportation related to the building’s use.
It might sound trivial to measure the carbon output of bricks and mortar, but their impact compared to lifetime operational carbon is astonishing. According to data from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, a typical commercial property produces around 70% of its total carbon emissions as embodied carbon during construction, manufacture, and transportation. The rest – around 30% – is produced as operational carbon emissions over an average 60-year lifespan.
Understanding and addressing WLC is crucial for the construction industry to reduce its environmental impact and contribute to climate change mitigation. By considering both embodied and operational carbon, industry professionals can make informed decisions about material selection, design choices, and operational strategies to minimise the overall carbon footprint of buildings and infrastructure.
A key component of this is the ability to reuse or replace certain building materials like facades in an effort to cut down on environmental impact and waste generation.
What is Part Z?
Part Z is a proposed amendment to UK Building Regulations which aims to introduce mandatory whole-life carbon assessments and embodied carbon limits for major building projects by 2026. By 2028, legal limits on embodied carbon for new construction could take effect.
This means that developers and contractors would be required to consider the environmental impact of a building throughout its entire lifecycle, from initial construction right through to its demolition decades later.
Why is Part Z important for commercial property restoration?
This shift is a pivotal moment for commercial property owners deciding between retrofitting and refurbishing existing buildings or demolishing and rebuilding.
Whole-life carbon assessment shines a light on the “hidden” carbon cost of demolition and replacement, tilting the balance toward refurbishment. If Part Z is adopted, new rules are likely to discourage tearing down older buildings when a viable case for refurbishment exists.
In other words, owners and developers would need to justify the carbon impact of a rebuild versus the savings from reusing an existing structure, whether that’s the facade or the foundations. This is game-changing because suddenly the embodied carbon in an old facade becomes an environmental liability if wasted, and a resource if preserved.
Numerous studies show that retaining and upgrading an existing building can slash its carbon footprint. A deep refurbishment typically results in roughly half the carbon footprint of constructing a replacement.
The future of commercial property (and facade) restoration
Embracing sustainable construction means focusing on strategies that preserve the embodied carbon already locked into a building’s envelope. Every existing facade represents a huge investment of energy and resources from when it was first built. The composite panels, steel supports, and glass panes all have a complex carbon backstory.
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and other industry bodies stress that reusing building elements is one of the major opportunities to reduce a project’s embodied carbon footprint. According to civil engineering firm Wintech, a facade typically accounts for 13–17% of a building’s total embodied carbon, so even partial reuse of facade elements can avoid a substantial carbon expenditure.
Supporting the reuse and refurbishment of building facades
See Brilliance has over 30 years’ experience in providing cost-effective restoration alternatives to respraying, rebuilding, and replacement.
Utilising advanced systems and certified skill, our experts can restoratively clean metal, glass, and stone facade surfaces to their factory finish and standard, enhancing company and property image by leaving a protected finish that is practical, aesthetically pleasing, and to almost ‘as new’ condition and appearance.
To find out more about our facade restoration services, including DOFF Steam Cleaning, TORC Cleaning, commercial facade and cladding restoration and restorative cleaning, get in touch with our restoration specialists today.